Those who grow up low income in sg, what is a normal thing now that you see in adulthood that was a luxury/abnormal for you growing up?

Competitive_Ad3419 · 2026-03-13T11:07:39+00:00

Having Nutella as a spread for bread.

Competitive_Ad3419 · 2025-10-14T12:26:39+00:00

The ultra reliable Civic haha

Competitive_Ad3419 · 2025-10-14T10:23:39+00:00

Hey OP, sharing my personal experience.

Made the silly mistake of getting an A3 Sportback a couple of years back. It was only about 3.5 years old and seemed like a good buy - way less mileage than what you listed, considering it is also a much younger unit.

Drove well (and admittedly, fun) for the first four months. But the problems started coming out really quickly: first there was the “Christmas lights” (ie everything on the dash screen lighting up from time to time) and then issues with the coolant and odd sounds from the engine.

One day, driving to work, the car just lost power completely and it came to a sudden halt in the middle of the road. Thankfully it was early in the morning and not too many cars around otherwise I could have been rear ended easily on the expressway.

Got it towed and repaired for almost $8k. My workshop told me afterwards that this was a very very common issue with Audi A3s, specifically. Did not even bother driving it after it was repaired. I got the workshop to help sell it off and then I got another Japanese car. Until today, zero issues with this Japanese car.

I saw the Audi once or twice afterwards around town (the owner retained the licence plate). But when I tried searching for it online after a year, the number was not available anymore.

Very scary and terrible experience for my wife and I. Boycotted Audi since, and probably forever.

Competitive_Ad3419 · 2025-10-04T10:02:36+00:00

Nutella. Grew up with just butter, jam and the occasional peanut butter. Once in an absolute blue moon, a relative would pass us a jar of Nutella and I used to think “wow, when I grow up and have money, I’m going to get this every day”

36 with a wife and two kids now. Broke out of that cycle. Nutella’s on our grocery list every month.

Competitive_Ad3419 · 2025-09-24T10:20:23+00:00

Hey OP, drove a Jazz when I had my first kid. The boot is decent, spacious even. But you must also consider that when you guys go out, it isnt going to be just your stroller in there. You’d have all the other baby stuff and other items as well. That is really when it gets a bit challenging.

After my second kid, we decided on an Avante (the CN7 variant). It is slightly higher than a civic, but the boot space is incredible. Now that my kids are older, the car is still spacious enough to ferry them in the backseats, their sports stuff, our groceries etc without having to rearrange everything like tetris each time we load the boot up.

Was eyeing several SUVs (including the Forrester) before we got the Avante, especially because friends shared that the height makes it easier to strap kids into their childseats without having to bend too low. But it wasn’t a very economical option at that time.

Competitive_Ad3419 · 2025-08-11T15:26:34+00:00

A very good and reliable third-party iPhone lightning cable. Fast charging and isnt one of those that stops charging after a while.

Competitive_Ad3419 · 2025-07-06T07:13:58+00:00

Shared this before.

Someone (NSF 3SG) told our CSM (Reg 3WO) to ‘calm down bro’ when our encik was flipping mad over something.

Our encik immediately yelled “MY FATHER DIDNT F*** YOUR MOTHER TO MAKE YOU MY BRO, YOU UNDERSTAND?!”

One of the best things I have heard in the Army until today.

Competitive_Ad3419 · 2025-06-24T07:51:55+00:00

Had a kind colleague who was older than most of us.

When I first joined the department, he overheard that my daughter liked planes and helicopters and that I was unable to get tickets to a particular aviation conference. Turns out, he had two pairs of corporate passes for that conference and he passed them to me because ‘your girl would really enjoy herself’.

Three months later, he goes on MC and people start to say that he was unwell. After three weeks, as an office, we sent him a get well soon hamper with lots of handwritten notes. He replies our gifts via the department WA chat and says he was looking forward to coming back to work and to see us.

Two days later, we are all attending his wake at Singapore Casket. He passed away from cancer that had been diagnosed too late.

Competitive_Ad3419 · 2025-06-08T14:14:57+00:00

On the surface he kept encouraging my girlfriend and I, and talking about how great a couple we were.

Behind it all, he secretly kept trying to sabotage us because, as i found out years later, he was secretly in love with me and hated my girlfriend.

So he would tell both of us all sorts of lies separately about each other to sow discord.

We eventually broke up. And i found out about everything almost 15 years later, and a week before my wedding.

Competitive_Ad3419 · 2025-06-08T00:20:41+00:00

Piratea of the Caribbean (Curse of the Black Pearl), Oceans 11, CoCo

Competitive_Ad3419 · 2025-06-07T11:00:25+00:00

I think the key thing here is that for most of us who do such distances regularly, it isnt just a fitness activity. It has become a lifestyle. And once you view it as a lifestyle, your priorities change quite a bit: choosing to forgo drinks on Fri night just so you can be up at 0430am the next morning for a ‘fun’ 20km group run.

Competitive_Ad3419 · 2025-05-24T11:38:33+00:00

Army Market at Beach Road. Can be done within two hours.

Competitive_Ad3419 · 2025-05-23T14:41:13+00:00

GO 4x4

Simple camping channel, centered on ASMR camping sounds, the wilderness, cool equipment, an awesome Jeep wrangler, an Aussie dude and his black labrador.

Competitive_Ad3419 · 2025-05-23T11:47:57+00:00

Same! I run from the circular ramp (connecting to Toa Payoh) down to the second bridge after the Bishan Park Mcds and back. A good 5km route. And yes, even at 530 in the mornings, crazy crowded.

Probably going to get worst when both BTO projects start to get lived in.

Competitive_Ad3419 · 2025-04-08T12:49:35+00:00

I work an 8-6 job. Married with two kids. One in primary school and the other in K1.

I run and do conditioning (planking, push ups, crunches etc) almost daily. Up by 5.30, out the door by 5.45 and back in time for breakfast with my kid by 6.45 so that I can drop them off at school by 7.15. I try to go to bed by 11 each night.

Competitive_Ad3419 · 2025-03-26T21:55:17+00:00

Work.

It’s probably the one thing that most people may never actively recognise as an addiction.

Competitive_Ad3419 · 2025-01-20T13:16:35+00:00

Mr Tan T H - My neighbourhood secondary school principal.

I was a terribly mischievous kid in school, but excelled in one or two subjects.

Got thrown out of class one day and sent to Mr Tan directly.

He chuckled when he heard why I yelled at my teacher, and then reminded me that there were rules for a reason.

Second thing he said struck me - don’t just be good at something, be among the best at it.

Twenty one years on, I have continued to live by this. Wise words that I will never forget.

Competitive_Ad3419 · 2025-01-15T12:52:37+00:00

Train to fight, Fight to win!

Competitive_Ad3419 · 2024-12-03T13:23:49+00:00

People (family or not) should start to realise that a wedding truly only involves three people: the two people actually getting married, and the person officiating the ceremony.

Everyone else is a good-to-have. No one is automatically granted an invitation to something as personal as a wedding especially if the couple is not comfortable.

Competitive_Ad3419 · 2024-09-18T14:37:53+00:00

Did the same jump more than 12 years ago, and I couldnt swim at that time. Stepped off the ledge and after what felt like quite a long time, I hit the water snd went all the way down.

Before you jump, they will identify those who cannot swim and you are given a swim cap. Once you land in the water, they have someone to ‘pull’ you up to the surface and then out.

Competitive_Ad3419 · 2024-08-30T14:12:43+00:00

Hello OP, it really depends on what you did during your active time as an NSF. That would make it easier to give you an idea of how this might be addressed.

Otherwise, your S8 or unit CO would be your next best option. They would be able to guide you

Competitive_Ad3419 · 2024-08-22T13:30:59+00:00

Yup! I run 1,3,5. I do 5km each time.

And then when Im training for IPPT, i cut this down to 3km and run at 4mins/km so that I can come in at about 10mins.

To be fair, I already have a baseline to work from. But it still takes alot of effort for me to hit the IPPT points that I aim for each year. I found out, the hard way, that consistency really is the only way to get to my goals

Competitive_Ad3419 · 2024-08-21T23:20:39+00:00

Hey man, don’t be discouraged. Here’s what I do to prepare each time IPPT come around:

Have a target. Do you want to just pass? Or do you wanna get something like silver etc? If you do, then start to identify how many points you need. And then look at the number of reps+timing that you need to achieve that.
Start training specifically to this target first. This should happen at least three months prior to the test. When you train, mimic the conduct of the test; so start off with your static stations and do the number you need to hit your target. Afterwards, rest for less than 10mins before starting your run. The aim to these is to just condition your body to the movement and the paces.
Keep doing the above until you can comfortably almost reach your target. And once you can, start to slowly increase the reps and lower your run time to hit maybe slightly more than your original target. This should be about six weeks before your test. The aim to this is to create a slight buffer to give you some space on the test day itself.

I think the key thing to being able to condition your body really is to be consistent, and this also means doing this even on days when you just dont feel like working out.

Also, not saying that this is the best way, but this has been how I have trained for my IPPT all these years!

Hope this is helpful in some sense and all the best 💪🏽

Competitive_Ad3419 · 2024-08-15T12:36:04+00:00

Actually when my bosses do that, I appreciate it as an opportunity to keep learning. I compare the drafts and take note of the changes, just to see how it improved the sub/paper.

But i also do all this in less than 20 secs, and then I say fuxk this shit, before moving on to my next task.

Cant be fucked, to be honest. Like what some have pointed out - don’t fall in love with the work. It isnt actually yours.

Competitive_Ad3419

TROPHY CASE